Bearing.



J. E. SAPP. EARING. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

t wanton wifnaoaao J. E.-SAPP.

BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.2,1909.

5&54g Patented May 17,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET: 3.

l v'neoou I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. SAPP, OF BAINBRIDGE, GEORGIA.

BEARING.

Serial No. 475,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. SAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbrid e, in the county of Decatur and State of eorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bearings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bearings.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may be usedas a bearing for the axles of a bicycle, automobile, wagon or other vehicle, or which may be employed as a bearing for the shaft of a machine of any descri tion.

A urther object is to provide a bearing which ma be readily ad usted in order to take up t e wear from time to time, and which when used on the hub ofa vehicle will permit the movement ofesaid hub longitudinally of the axle to a'lirnited degrec,thereby relieving strains caused by jolts resulting from an uneven roadbed; to provide for the taking up of such strains by means of a resilient device located between the hub and the axle or parts secured to the axle, and to provide a suflicient number of oints of adustment so that when a plurallty of ball or roller bearings are used on a single hub each of these hearings may be accurately adjusted and to a correspondmg degree.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a hub of a bicycle wheel, the axle on which said hub is mounted being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a hub and axle designed for use on a larger vehicle. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a hub and axle, such hub being provided with a ball bearing near either end. Figs. 4 and 5 are also longitudinal sections of hubs provided with my improved device, a plurality of ball bearings being provided at either end of the hub. Fig. 6 is a similar view of a hub provided with a bearing of the same general character as those illustrated in the other figures, but provided with roller bearings in addition to ball bearings.

pressed locking plate contacting therewith. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and especially to Fig. 1 thereof, .the numeral 1 indicates the axle of a vehicle, the construction here shown being especially designed for use on a bicycle. The axle 1 is provided on its periphery with a number of longitudinal ribs 2, and tubular members 3 and 4 surrounding such axle are provided with internally projecting devices 5 arranged to engage the ribs on the axle l in order that such members may be held in a given position against revolution. The numeral 6 indicates the hub proper to which the spokes are aflixed. Each tubular member is provided with an outwardly extending Specification of Letters Patent. t t May 7, 1910.

Application filed Februaiy 2, 1509.

flange 7 near-its outer end, and the hub 6 exterior of member 4, and formed vwith right and left hand threads respectively. The threaded portions 13' and 14 are formed upon reduced portions of members 3 and a, as shown. The forks of the bicycle are indicated by 15 and 16, and the nuts secured to the ends of the axle by 17.

In adjusting the parts of the device shown in Fig. 1, the tubular members 3 and 4 are screwed together until the flanges 7 are in the correct position with reference to the ball bearings, and the axle is then placed in position, the ribs 2 thereof engaging the devices 5, and the resilient .devices holding such members permanently in position until a further adjustment is rendered desirable on account of wear.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 2 is similar in principle, but the bearing here shown is designed for use in connection with a larger vehicle. In this figure the axle is again represented by 1, the longitudinal ribs thereon by 2, and the tubular members by 3 and 4, respectively. The hub proper, indicated by 6, is provided with the usual box pose as inthe device illustrated in Fig. 2.

18 having an outwardly extending flange 19, and a flange ring 20 is located in the hub at the end of the box 18 opposite to such flange 19. Members 3 and 4 are provided, respectively, on their ends with flanges 21 and 22 the former of which contacts with flanged ring 20 andthelatter of which con tacts with flange 19. The tubular member 3 is provided with an internal screw thread and the tubular member 4 with an external screw thread engaging the threads firstmentioned. These tubular members are also provided with devices 5 for engaging the ribs 2 of the axle, this construction corresponding to that shown in Fig. 8. A c'ollar 23 surrounds the axle atthe extreme end of that portion located within the bearing, and a nut 24 is secured to the outer end of the axle, the hub 6 being provided with a cap 25 which prevents dust from coming into contact with the bearing. Between the end of tubular member 3 and the flanged portion of nut 24 is a nut plate 26 provided with ribs, as shown in Fig. 7, engaging cor-' responding ribs on the flanged portion of the nut. A spring 27 is located between plate 26 and the end of tubular member 3, and a similar spring 28 is located between collar 23 and flange 22 of tubular member 4. These springs serve to form a resilient connection between, the axle and thehubso that the latter may be moved to a limited 1 degree longitudinally 'of-the axle andtherer by take up lateral strains resulting from an uneven roadbed. A flanged collar 29 is connected with the inner end of the hub and surrounds collar 23, thereby excludin dust and dirt from the inner end of the a e.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 2 is adjusted for the purpose of taking up wear by screwing members 3 and 4 together until the flanges 21 and 22 are in such position that they will contact with flanges 20 and 19, respectively. The hub containing these members thus adjusted is then placed on the axle, the longitudinal ribs engaging the devices 5 projecting inwardly and thereby securely holding the various parts permanently in position until further adjustment is required.

In 3 the tubular members 3. and 4 are connected by screw threadsfin thfimanner already described, and are provided with devices similar to those shown in "Fig. 8 for engaging the longitudinal ribs of the axle 1. n this construction ball bearings are provided, such bearings being located between collars 9 and 10, the former of which rests in an annularrecess 8 formed in the hub and the latter of which bears against a rubber washer 11 resting on flange 7 of member 3. Springs 27 and 28 surround the axle at either end of that portion located within the'bearing and serve the same pur- A nut plate 26, provided with ribs engaging the ribs on the flanged portion of nut 24 is also employed.

- In Fi 4 I have illustrated aconstruction in whic a plurality of ball bearing: are located near either end of the hub. this case, tubular members 3 and ,4 havin a threaded connection with each other. at t eir ends are provided also with threaded portions 30 and 31 on their outer ends, such threaded portions engaging corresponding threads on flanged collars 32. Annular members 33 are located within the hub and are provided with tapering outer surfaces corresponding withthe inclined wall 34 of the hub. These tubular members 33 carry in-- wardly extending flanges'35, the latter supmernbers 33 are designed to be brought into such close contact with the wall 34 of the hub revithat they will rotate with the latter and that 1 tu al ribs on the'axle.

In F i 5 four ball bearings are used each en of the hub, the latter having inclined. walls 34 as in the device shown "in Fig. 4, such walls being engaged by" collars 42 and 43 located adjacent .to each other, two being provided at each end of the hub. These collars have inwardly projecting flanges 35 supporting collars for the ball bearings, as above described in connection with the other figures. In this case the tubular members 3 and 4 are considerably shorter thanthose employed Where a less number of bearing balls are used, and a plurality of collars 44, 45 and 46 havin threaded connections surround the axle and y the en agement of these members with the are located in proximity to members 3 and Y 4. The collar 46 has a flange 47 projecting over the outerv end of member 42 and engaging -'a spring 27 surrounding the axle and bearing against collar 23 also mounted on the axle. A similar sprin is located in the op osite end of axle 1 an bears a ainst nut p ate 26. It will be understoo that collars 44, 45j -and 46- carryin collars 49, 48 and 47' for the hearing be s, may each be adjusted for the purpose of taking up wear in the usual manner and that tubular members 3' and 4 may be adjusted relative to each other.

In Fig.6 I have shown a construction in which the tubular members 3 and 4 and the collars connected thereto are each provided with corresponding engaging devices, means "longitudinal ribs thereon for contacting with seams with flanges-51 and 50 res ectively, in which rollers 52 may be mounte such rollers bearin against the inclined surfaces 34 ofthe hu 6. Each tubular member is threaded internally at its outer end and engages a threaded portion of a collar 53 against which spring 27 is arranged to hear. The bearing balls 12 are located between the inner faces of collars 53, and the collars 54 bearing against the hub. The manner of adjusting the device shown in Fig. 6 will be apparent after reading the description above of the other figures.

It will be noted that the springs desi ed for taking up'strains longitudinally o the axle bear on portions which do not revolve and that such springs cannot, therefore, add in any manner to the friction between the moving parts.

WhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bearing, a plurality of tubular members adjustable with reference to eachother, engaging devices thereon, an axle provided with corresponding engaging devices, bearings for the tubular members, and resilient devices for flexibly supporting the tubular members against movement longitudinall of the axle.

- 2. Iii a bearing, a plurality of tubular members having screw-threaded connection, engaging devices therein, an axle provided for mounting the tubular members, and resilient devices for flexibly supportin the tubular members against movement ongi tudinally of the-axle.

members adjustable with reference to-each other, engaging devices thereon, an axle,

the en gmg devices means for rotatably mounti g a' hub on thd tubular members, and resilient devices for flexibly supporting the l the axle and bearing 3. In aybearing, a plurality of tubular tubular members against movement longitudinally of the axle.

4. In a bearing, a plurality of tubular members adjustable with reference to each other, engaging devices on said members, an

ing threaded connection with the outer end of each of the tubular members, means for rotatably mounting a hub on said collar and on said tubular members, and means bearing against the collar for'cushioning the, latter. with reference to the axle. Y

6. In a bearin a plurality of tubular members adjustab y connected, en aging de vices thereon, an axle, longitudinal ribs thereon contacting with the en agin devices on the tubular members, col irs a justably connected with the tubular members,- annular devices arranged to be supported in the bearing, means for rotatably su portin the tubular members and collar wit n suc annular members and s rings surrounding amstthe collars. In testimon whereo I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses. Y

: M S 3- ea Witnesses:

B. F. LEWIS,

G. B. Gonoon.

' ax e, a collar surrounding the axle and hav- 

